San Diegan's soccer odyssey enlists famous guide

Jensen Jabara, who played soccer at Bishop’s, now attends the IMG Academy in Florida but still plans to graduate from Bishop’s.

Jensen Jabara, who played soccer at Bishop’s, now attends the IMG Academy in Florida but still plans to graduate from Bishop’s. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Glae Thien

If The Bishop School’s Jensen Jabara ever wonders what a world-class soccer player would do in his situation, he can ask U.S. great Landon Donovan through a kinship developed during a chance encounter two years ago.

Their alliance has helped Jabara through a soccer odyssey that has seen the current high school senior come to San Diego to propel his youth career, enjoy two standout seasons at Bishop’s, twice do summer training in Croatia, and head to the famed IMG Academy this year. This is all on the way to the University of Washington in the fall.

Known as a bold soccer player, Jabara admittedly had to conquer his nerves to approach Donovan at a Padres game to greet and compliment his idol. Through seven innings, he waited for the opportunity and then he ended up making such an impression that Donovan offered to stay in touch.

“We really hit it off,” Jabara said. “So I texted him later that night, and the next morning, I got a response, ‘I want to help you.’ I was ecstatic. I couldn’t believe it. I was just hoping to meet him at best.”

The recently retired Donovan recalls being impressed by Jabara’s well-mannered ways and struck by memories of his own youth and how he would have welcomed the support of someone with first-hand experience developing as a player.

“My thought was if he wants to call and ask me a few questions about decisions he was making, I thought that would be really helpful,” said Donovan, who ranks first all-time in assists and shares the lead for goals on the U.S. national team. “It just progressed to why don’t we just get out on the field and start working on some stuff. He was so eager that it was exciting for me, too.”

Besides exchanging messages, the two would typically meet for training twice a month, including Donovan’s method of meditation before drills. As it turned out, too, their bond was no more helpful than when Jabara was sidelined for nine months due to a knee injury suffered on his first visit to Croatia two summers ago.

“Some days were harder than others,” said Jabara, who sustained a torn ACL. “If I ever feel pretty down, I’d always text Landon, and he’d always help me out no matter what. He’d lift my spirits.”

Donovan, also a former stalwart for the Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS, related how he suffered a broken ankle just ahead of a youth national team camp at age 15.

“So I vividly remember that feeling of thinking your chance was over,” Donovan said. “What I reminded him was this is a very short period in his life and that he’s going (to be) fine. His work ethic coupled with them being very cautious about how quickly he came back helped.”

While some athletes return from an ACL injury in six months, Jabara followed his doctor’s advice for nine months of rehab following surgery to strengthen the knee. That led into heading last fall to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where the facilities include a top-notch fitness center.

Jabara’s trek in soccer began relatively late by today’s standards since he didn’t become a competitive club player until 13. He originally played baseball as well, but then his growing love for soccer led him to focus on the sport albeit with catching up to do.

“I was one of the worst players on the team, but I was so motivated to be the best one on the field,” said Jabara, who then lived in Palm Desert. “That has pushed me on each team that I’ve been on.”

Jabara subsequently attended a soccer camp at USD and caught the eye of Toreros coach Brian Quinn, then an assistant at the school. In turn, Quinn invited him to train occasionally with him at the San Diego Soccer Club.

What began as a weekly trek from Palm Desert turned into trips three times a week. During the four-hour round trip, Jabara could eat dinner, do homework and bond with his father, Harvey, at the wheel of their vehicle.

“My wife, Missy, and I said this young man has shown the passion and desire and the ability to balance soccer and academics,” said Harvey Jabara, a minority owner of the Padres. “We have always said that our job is to help our children with their dreams.”

The commutes lasted a year until the family initiated a move to downtown, while the parents split time in Palm Desert for another year with their other son, Jaxson, playing baseball there. Jaxson then moved to San Diego and competed for two seasons at Cathedral Catholic. He’s now a freshman at Arizona State in a support role with the baseball team.

With the move to San Diego, the younger Jabara began his prep career at Bishop’s. Over his two years with the Knights, he led the team with 26 goals and 24 assists overall before the knee injury sidelined him for his junior season. Also, he has played with the local Albion Soccer Club.

“Jensen is a fun, attacking player to watch,” Washington coach Jamie Clark said when Jabara signed his letter of intent with the school in November. “He loves to run at players and is fantastic at unbalancing defenses.”

The 5-foot-6, 135-pounder typically plays left or right wing and even center forward, much in common with Donovan. Jabara sometimes switches positions at midgame in tandem with his teammates. He has had the same role since focusing on soccer, and it fits his personality.

“I just kind of like going at things and tackling them head on,” Jabara said. “That’s how I play.”

Jabara returned to the scene of his injury last summer again with the academy program at Dinamo Zagreb, arranged through connections with John Matich of the Kicking System soccer program in San Diego.

“It was an amazing experience,” Jabara said. “The players were incredible. It was also interesting learning in a different environment where almost no one spoke English. Just training at the highest level and the quick pace, it really helped me with the speed of play.”

Jabara notes similar quick action on his 18-19 academy team at IMG. The day starts there with soccer in the morning, followed by classwork. His mother also has joined him in Florida during the one-year residency program.

“Like Croatia, I feel that my speed of play has improved,” Jabara said. “I’m just a lot smarter and more technical on the ball. I’m just playing a whole lot better.”

The academic credits from IMG apply at Bishop’s, allowing Jabara to participate with his peers at the La Jolla campus in graduation this school year.

“At the end of the day, he’s so driven to be successful,” Donovan said. “He wants to play soccer. He’s a really bright kid, and he’ll be successful at anything he does also because of his work ethic and the way he treats people. I try to let him know that if he really wants to do all this, he should give it a chance. With Jensen, I don’t worry because if soccer doesn’t work out, I know he’s going to be fine.”

With Jabara in Florida this school year and onto Washington the next, there’s greater distance between Donovan and himself, yet their bond remains close.

“We will be friends forever,” Donovan said, “whether soccer is involved or not.”

Jabara, who returned home for winter break, considered where soccer has taken him and what lies ahead.

“I’m so grateful to have Landon as well as my parents, teammates and coaches,” Jabara said. “I’m excited. I can’t wait for next year, and this year is going well. I’m really looking forward to the future.”

Backed with further world-class support.

Thien is a freelance writer.

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